On Today's Podcast
Lithium May Have A Role In Causing—And Treating—Alzheimer’s
This important breakthrough and other research projects have lost funding because of Trump’s cuts to the NIH.
Listen NowAugust 8, 2025
Solar power adoption has been rising fast. Amid recent federal efforts to limit clean energy, will it make a dent in our climate impact? Plus, the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease have eluded scientists for decades. But a new breakthrough points to lithium as a possible explanation. And, Dr. Masao Tomonaga was 2 years old when the US bombed Nagasaki. Eighty years later, he reflects on a lifetime of treating other survivors.
Gathering From Coast To Coast Around Climate Change
This October, The SciFri Book Club team is gathering to explore this fall’s Book Club pick, ‘Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore.’
What Coastal Retreat Looks Like On Isle de Jean Charles
On an island shrinking from rising seas, Indigenous communities battle to save their historic land from coastal flooding.
11:26
New Policies Emerge In The Wake Of Climate-Connected Disasters
With fires still burning in the west and gulf states still recovering from Ida, President Biden unveils an expanded solar energy policy.
14:21
Is Inflammation In The Brain Causing Alzheimer’s Disease?
Scientists once thought inflammation as a symptom of Alzheimers. But it might actually be the driver of the disease.
2:57
The World According To Sound: Ultrasonics
The podcast ‘World According To Sound’ invites you to throw on headphones and imagine yourself as a katydid on the floor of Panama’s forests.
16:08
How COVID-19 Reveals Existing Biases Against The Disability Community
Disability advocates feel let down by California’s pandemic response—and are fighting for more equal treatment.
12:08
To Breed An Oyster
As climate change shifts ocean chemistry, persuading oysters to breed helps scientists understand how they may be impacted.
17:19
Talking Through The Tangled Terms Of Climate Change
A new report finds that the words and phrases scientists use to talk about the climate crisis are frequently misunderstood.
16:53
An Aquatic Charismatic Creature Showdown: Mantis Shrimp Vs. Hellbender
Getting wet and wild with our first week of the Charismatic Creature Carnival.
How The Humble Asiatic Dayflower Revealed Clues To Blue Hues
This briefly-blooming plant gave Japanese artists a distinctive dye—and helped scientists answer a color chemistry mystery.
Your Vote Counts In The Charismatic Creature Carnival!
Are you ready to vote for this month’s most Charismatic Creature? After you hear from our experts, cast your ballot!
Meet Science Friday’s Sixth Cohort Of Educator Collaborators
Meet our sixth cohort of Science Friday Educator Collaborators and the learning experiences they created from Science Friday stories.
12:06
Nation Grapples With Several Climate Disasters At Once
While wildfires blaze out west, Hurricane Ida wallops the eastern United States, more evidence that extreme weather is tied to climate change.
7:39
Florida Schools With Mask Mandates Lose Funding
Governor Ron DeSantis’ crusade against masks in schools reaches a fever pitch.
13:56
Many Schools Are Buying High-Tech Air Purifiers. Do They Actually Work?
Some schools are buying air purification systems that may not work as well as a standard HEPA filter, according to air quality experts.
12:05
Fact Check My Feed: Why Are People Taking Discredited Horse Medicine For COVID-19?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen debunks the latest COVID-19 home remedy, and weighs in on new variants.
17:34
What Happens If Atlantic Ocean Currents Cease To Churn?
Climate models suggest that a crucial ocean circulation pattern is already changing—a sign that we’re heading toward climate tipping points.
17:08
A Sourdough Saga, From Starter To Slice
Author Eric Pallant dives into the delicious culture and chemistry of breadmaking.
9:16
Back To School During The Delta Variant
With pediatric COVID-19 cases rising, and Delta’s high transmission rates, many parents are concerned about school safety.
How Scientists Solved The Mystery Of Rising Bread
From bleeding polenta and a corrupt grain trade, author Eric Pallant traces how scientists figured out that sourdough’s fermentation comes from living microbes.